Flexographic presses with interrupter and cylinder register mechanisms

ABSTRACT

A flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with each station having an associated impression cylinder, a printing plate cylinder mounted for individual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder, and an ink fountain roller mounted for individual movement back and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, and means for correcting the web registration between stations.

United States Patent Inventor Lawrence Rosenstadt Rye. N.Y.

Appl. No. 818,647

Filed Apr. 23, 1969 Patented Sept. 14, 1971 Assignee Lee MachineryCorporation New York, NY.

FLEXOGRAPl-HC PRESSFB WITH INTERRUPTER AND CYLINDER REGISTER MECHANISMSPrimary Examiner-.1. Reed Fisher Attorney-Ward. McElhannon, Brooks andFitzpatrick ABSTRACT: A flexographic press having a plurality ofprinting stations with each station having an associated impressioncylinder. a printing plate cylinder mounted for individual movement backand forth relative to its impression cylinder. and an ink fountainroller mounted for individual movement back and forth relative to itsprinting plate cylinder, and means for correcting the web registrationbetween stations.

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SHEET 3 [IF 4 l N VEN TOR A M/260 66 Pas6Wq07 FLEXOGRAPHIC PRESSES WITHINTERRUPTER AND CYLINDER REGISTER MECHANISMS This invention relates toprinting presses and more particularly to flexographic presses.

The type of printing known as flexography or aniline print- ,ing is aspecialized form of relief printing used for printing on such materialsas cellophane, polyethylene, or the like. This type of printing isgenerally characterized by the use of flexible rubber plates carried bythe printing cylinders of web-fed rotary presses. Generally, the platesare inked by a single inking roller and the material to be printed isfed between the press plate cylinder and its associated impressioncylinder.

It is usual for this type of flexographic press to print multiple colorswith a plate cylinder, and a coacting impression cylinder associatedwith each particular color to be printed. Precise registration of theweb between successive printing stations in a press of this nature iscritical. Prior art means for controlling this registration is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 3,233,539 dated Feb. 8, 1966. The present inventionconcerns improvements upon the features of such apparatus.

conventionally, flexographic presses of the class described includemeans for laterally moving the printing plate cylinder with respect tothe impression cylinder as well as means for laterally moving the inkplate roller with respect to the printing plate cylinder. Prior artmeans for effecting such movements are disclosed in aforementioned Pat.No. 3,233,539. This invention is directed to improvements upon thefeatures of the apparatus of the prior art.

Briefly my invention contemplates the provision of a flexographic presshaving a plurality of printing stations with each station having an inkfountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and a related impressioncylinder. It will be understood that more than one printing platecylinder may be associated with each impression cylinder and in theflexographic printing press illustrated, two such printing platecylinders are normally associated with each impression cylinder. In eachstation, means are provided for mounting the printing plate cylindersfor individual movement back and forth relative to its impressioncylinder and means are provided for mounting each of the ink fountainrollers for individual movement back and forth relative to its printingplate cylinder. In addition, means are provided for correcting the webregistration between statrons.

In one form of my invention the means for mounting the printing platecylinder include a printing plate cylinder shaft carrying the printingplate cylinder and a printing plate cylinder frame having upwardextensions for carrying the printing plate cylinder. The press isprovided with a crossarm having a keyway therein for slidably receivingthe printing plate cylinder frame thereon. In addition, means areincorporated for providing course adjustments as well as vemieradjustments of the printing plate cylinder frame with respect to theimpression cylinder, thereby insuring effective and rapid adjustment ofthe printing plate cylinder.

In another form of my invention, I provide means for mounting an inkfountain roller including an ink fountain roller shaft which carries theroller and which, in turn, is mounted on an ink fountain carriage. Theprinting cylinder frame is provided with a keyway for slidably receivingthe carriage. Means are incorporated for providing course adjustmentsand vemier adjustments of the ink fountain carriages with respect to theprinting cylinder frame, thereby insuring effective and rapid adjustmentof the ink fountain roller.

In still another form of my invention, 1 provide means for adjusting therotational position of the printing plate cylinder with respect to theimpression cylinder to correct the web registration between stations,which include a pair of mating helical gears, one of said gears being indirect drive relationship with respect to the printing plate cylinderand the other of said helical gears being in direct drive relationshipwith respect to the impression cylinder. Means are incorporated foradjusting the relative position between the pair of helical gears toprovide partial rotational movement of the printing plate cylinder withrespect to the impression cylinder.

There has been outlined rather broadly the more important features ofthe invention in order that the detailed description thereof thatfollows may be better understood, and in order that the presentcontribution to the prior art may be better appreciated. There are, ofcourse, additional features of the invention that will be describedhereinafter which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on whichthis disclosure is based may readily be utilized as the basis for thedesign of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of theinvention. It is important, therefore, that this disclosure be regardedas including such equivalent constructions as do not depart from thespirit and scope of the invention.

One embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes ofillustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. I is a detailed side elevation, partly in section, of aflexographic press constructed according to the concept of my invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the gear means foreffecting registration of the web between successive printing stationsin the press;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation, taken along the line indicated at3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the flexographic press showing the meansfor effecting movement of the printing plate cylinder with respect tothe impression cylinder and movement of the ink fountain roller withrespect to the printing plate cylinder;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the lineindicated at 5-5 in FIG. 4, and showing details of the means for movingthe printing plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section view taken along the lineindicated at 6-6 in FIG. 4, and showing details of the means for movingthe ink plate roller with respect to the printing plate cylinder; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line indicated at7-7 in FIG. 6.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, as shown in FIG. 1, afour-color flexographic press embodies a main frame F carrying a supplyroll R rotatably mounted on a shaft 12. It will be understood thatsupply roll R can also be rotatably mounted on a separate unwindingstand with equal facility. Web material is fed from the supply rollaround the idler roll 14 and then around draw roll 16, preferablyfabricated from rubber or other similar material. From the draw roll 16,the web passes an upper impression cylinder 18 and a first printingplate cylinder 20 at a first printing station, indicated generally at I.Next, the web is fed between a lower impression cylinder 22 and a secondprinting plate cylinder 24 at a second printing station indicatedgenerally at 11, and then the web is fed over a bottom roller 26.Thereafter, the web passes between the lower impression cylinder 22 anda third plate printing plate cylinder 28 at a third printing stationindicated generally at III. and then the web passes between the upperimpression cylinder 18 and a fourth printing plate cylinder 30 at afourth printing station indicated generally at IV. Thence, the web isled around idler roller 32 and through a heated drying tunnel to arewind roll (not shown). In normal operation, the web passessuccessively through the printing stations I, II, III and IV, and ateach printing station a separate color is imprinted thereon by printingplate cylinders 20, 24, 28 and 30, respectively. Frequently, heatingmeans (not shown) are interposed between successively printing stationsto hasten the drying and setting of the ink. The web W is drawn from theroll R by the coaction of the impression cylinder 18 and the draw roll16 which are driven by any suitable source, known in the art. Inaddition, suitable draw rollers (not shown) on the rewind side of thepress may assist in pulling web W through the press.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the printing cylinder 20 is mounted on aprinting plate cylinder shaft 34 which is supported at each end byupward extensions 36 of printing plate cylinder frame 38. This frame, inturn, is slidably mounted in suitable keyways 40 formed in crossarms 42of the press frame F. An engraved ink roller 44 associated with theprinting plate cylinder 20 is mounted on an ink roller shaft 46 which iscarried at each end by an ink system carriage 48. An ink fountain roller50, mounted on ink fountain roller shaft 52 is also carried at each endby the ink carriage 48. The carriage 48 is slidably mounted in asuitable keyway 54 formed in the printing cylinder frame 38.

On each side of the press, the plate cylinder frame 38 is arranged forcontrolled travel along the crossarm 42 by a coarse adjusting means andby a fine or vernier adjusting means. Referring in particular to FIG. 4,the fine or vernier adjusting means for the plate cylinder framecomprises a frame adjusting shaft 62 mounted in a bore 64 in the platecylinder frame 38 for longitudinal motion. This shaft may be locked inany desired longitudinal position by means of a releasable locking screw66, the locking screw being provided with a handle 68 to simplify itsmanual manipulation. The other end of the shaft 62 is threaded, as at70, and a hand manipulatable frame adjusting nut 72 is mounted thereon.This nut is provided with a circumferential groove 74 for receiving abracket 76 fixedly mounted on the crossarm 42, so that rotation of thenut 72 causes the shaft 62 to move longitudinally with respect to thecrossarm 42, thereby causing the plate cylinder frame 38 to movelongitudinally with respect to the crossarm 42, providing a fine orvernier adjustment of the plate cylinder frame.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the coarse adjusting means for the travel of thecylinder frame 38 along the crossarm 42 comprises a gear shaft 55mounted on the crossarm 42, as at 53. A knob 56 is mounted on one end ofthe gear shaft for purposes of manual manipulation by the operator, anda pair of gears 58, one on each side of the machine, is mounted on theshaft. An elongated rack 60 is mounted on the crossarm 42 on each sideof the machine, and the gear shaft is arranged for transverse motionwith respect to the press so that when the shaft is moved to the rightas viewed in FIG. 5, the gears 58 are in their disengaged positions withrespect to racks 60 and when the shaft is moved to the left as viewed inFIG. 5, the gears 58 engage the racks 60. It will be appreciated thatwhen the gear 58 are in their engaged positions, and the releasable lockscrews 66 (FIG. 4) are in their released positions, manipulation of theknob 56 in one direction will cause forward motion of the plate cylinderframe 38 with respect to the crossarm 42 and manipulation of the knob inthe opposite direction will cause backward motion of the plate cylinderframe with respect to the crossarm. Normally, in operation, after thecoarse adjustment has been completed, the lock screws 66 are moved totheir locked positions; and then the nuts 72 of the vernier adjustingmeans are manipulated to complete the fine adjustment of the platecylinder frame with respect to the crossarm.

On each side of the press, the ink fountain carriage 48 is arranged forcontrolled travel along the printing cylinder frame 38 by a coarseadjusting means and by a fine or vernier adjusting means. As best seenin FIG. 4, the fine or vernier adjusting means for the ink fountaincarriage 48 comprises a carriage adjusting shaft 78 mounted in a bore 80in the ink fountain carriage for longitudinal motion. This shaft may belocked in any desirable longitudinal position by means of a releasablelocking screw 82, the locking screw 82 being provided with a handle 84to simplify its manual manipulation. The other end of the carriageadjusting shaft 78 is threaded, as at 86, and a hand manipulatablecarriage adjusting nut 88 is mounted thereon. This nut is provided witha circumferential groove 90 for receiving a bracket 92 fixedly mountedon the printing cylinder frame 38 so that rotation of the carriageadjusting nut 88 causes the shaft 78 to move longitudinally with respectto the printing cylinder frame 38, thereby causing the ink fountaincarriage 48 to move longitudinally with respect to the prigitingcylinder frame 38, providing a fine or vernier adjustment of the inkfountain carriage.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the coarse adjusting means comprises apair of gears 94, one on each side of the machine, mounted on the gearshaft 55. An elongated rack 96 is mounted on the ink carriage 48 on eachside of the machine and the shaft 55 is arranged for transverse motionwith respect to the press so that when the shaft is moved to the left,as viewed in FIG. 5, the gears 94 are in their disengaged positions withrespect to the racks 96, and when the shaft is moved to the right asviewed in FIG. 5, the gears 94 engage the racks 96. It will beappreciated that when the gears 94 are in their engaged positions, andthe releasable lock screws 82 are in their released positions,manipulation of the knob 88 in one direction will cause forward motionof the ink fountain carriage 48 with respect to the plate cylinder frame38 and manipulation of the knob in the other direction will causebackward motion of the carriage 48 with respect to the frame 38.Normally, in operation, after the coarse adjustment has been completed,the lock screws 82 are moved to their locked positions, and then thenuts 88 of the vernier adjusting means are manipulated to complete thefinal adjustment of the ink fountain carriage 48 with respect to theplate cylinder frame 38.

As the web W travels between printing stations I, I], ill and IV, thespeed thereof may vary slightly or the components may not be exactlylined up, thereby resulting in successive printing images of the webthat do not register one with the others. Means are provided forcorrecting the web registration between stations which are incorporatedwith the main driving mechanism of the press. As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2and 3, power is supplied to the press from any suitable source through amain shaft 98 mounted for rotation on the frame F. This shaft carriesthe impression cylinder 18. Also, mounted on the shaft 98 is a helicalgear 100. In addition, mounted for rotation on the frame F is a pair ofshafts 102, 104 which also carry helical gears 106 and 108,respectively. Both of these gears are mounted and arranged in matingrelationship with gear 100. In addition, mounted on shafts 102 and 104are gears 110 and 112, respectively. Gear 110 drives a gear 114 which ismounted for rotation on shaft 116 carried by bracket 1 18 mounted on theframe F. A gear 120 driven by gear 1 14 is mounted on the shaft 34 whichalso carriage the printing plate cylinder 20. On the other side of themachine, in printing station I, the gear 112 drives gear 122 which ismounted on shaft 124 carried by bracket 126 mounted on the frame F. Agear 128 which is mounted on the shaft 130, carries the printing platecylinder 30. Accordingly, in operation, rotation of the main drive shaft98 causes rotation of the impression cylinder 18 as well as of theprinting plate cylinders 20 and 30. Shafts 102 and 104 have hand knob132 and 134, respectively, fixedly attached thereto. It will beunderstood that manual rotation of knob 132 will cause longitudinalmotion of shaft 102 which, in turn, causes rotation of gear 1 10relative to gear 100 due to the helical design of gear 106. In thismanner, the impression cylinder 118 will remain rotationally fixed whilethe printing plate cylinder 20 rotates slightly, thereby correcting anyregistration misalignment. In like manner, manual manipulation of knob134 serves to cause slight rotation of gear 112 and hence printing platecylinder 30 with respect to gear 100 and impression cylinder 18.

It will be appreciated that the printing plate cylinders 24 and 28 arearranged and driven with respect to the impression cylinder 22 toprovide for the same registration adjustment just described inconnection with the printing plate cylinders 20 and 30 with respect tothe impression cylinder 18.

It will thus be seen that the present invention does indeed provide anew and improved flexographic press which is superior in simplicity,economy, and efficiency as compared to prior art such devices.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosedfor purposes of explanation, various modifications thereof, after studyof this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art towhich the invention pertains.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent 1. In aflexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with eachstation having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and arelated impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprisingmeans mounting said printing plate cylinders including a printing platecylinder shaft, said printing plate cylinder being mounted on saidprinting plate cylinder shaft, a printing plate cylinder frame havingupward extensions, said printing plate cylinder shaft being mounted onsaid extensions, a press frame having a crossarm, said crossarm having aprinting plate cylinder frame keyway, said printing plate cylinder framebeing slidably mounted on said cylinder frame keyway, a gear shaft,means for manually rotating said gear shaft, a gear mounted on said gearshaft, an elongated rack mounted on said crossarm, said gear shaft beingarranged for transverse motion with respect to said press to engage anddisengage said gear with respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear,and rack being arranged to position plate cylinder frame with respect tosaid crossarm when said gear is in engagement with said rack and saidgear shaft is manipulated, a frame adjusting shaft, said plate cylinderframe having a bore for receiving said frame adjusting shaft in slidingmotion, a releasable locking screw for locking said frame adjustingshaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of saidframe adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, a manipulatable frameadjusting nut mounted on said threaded portion, said frame adjusting nuthaving a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on thecrossarm and receivable in said circumferential groove to preventlongitudinal movement of said frame adjusting nut by allowing rotationalmovement, said frame adjusting nut and said frame adjusting screw beingarranged to move said plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarmwhen said locking screw is in its locked position and said frameadjusting nut is rotated.

2. in a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations witheach station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinderand a related impression cylinder, the combination in each stationcomprising means mounting each of said printing plate cylinders forindividual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder,means mounting each of said ink fountain rollers for individual movementback and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, said meansmounting in said printing plate cylinder including coarse adjustingmeans and vernier adjusting means, said means mounting said printingplate cylinder including a printing plate cylinder shaft, said printingplate cylinder being mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, aprinting plate cylinder frame having upward extensions, said printingplate cylinder shaft being mounted on said extensions, a press framehaving a crossarm, said crossarm having a printing plate cylinder framekeyway, said printing plate cylinder frame being slidably mounted onsaid cylinder frame keyway, said coarse adjusting means for adjustingthe position of said plate cylinder with respect to said impressioncylinder comprising a gear shaft, means for rotating said gear shaft, agear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on saidcrossarm, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion withrespect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear, and rack being arranged toposition said plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm whensaid gear is in engagement with said rack and said gear shaft ismanipulated.

3. A flexographic press according to claim 2 wherein said vernieradjusting means for adjusting said plate cylinder with respect to saidimpression cylinder comprises a frame adjusting shaft, said platecylinder frame having a bore for receiving said frame adjusting shaft insliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking said frameadjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end ofsaid frame adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, a manipulatableframe adjusting nut mounted on said threaded portion, said frameadjusting nut having a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mountedon said crossarm and receivable in said circumferential groove topreventdongitudinal movement of said frame adjusting nut but allowingrotational movement, said frame adjusting nut and said frame adjustingscrew being arranged to move said plate cylinder frame with respect tosaid crossarm when said locking screw is in its locked position and saidframe adjusting nut is rotated.

4. A flexographic press according to claim 2 including means foradjusting the rotational position of the printing plate cylinder withrespect to the impression cylinder to correct the web registrationbetween stations comprising a pair of mating helical gears, meansmounting one of said gears in direct drive relationship with respect tosaid printing plate cylinder and means mounting the other of said gearsin direct drive relationship with respect to said impression cylinder,means for adjusting the relative position between said pair of helicalgears to provide partial rotational movement of said printing platecylinder with respect to said impression cylinder.

5. in a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations witheach station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinderand a related impression cylinder, the combination in each stationcomprising means mounting each of said printing plate cylinders forindividual movement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder,means mounting each of said ink fountain rollers for individual movementback and forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, said meansmounting said ink fountain roller including coarse adjusting means andvemier adjusting means, means mounting said ink fountain rollerincluding an ink fountain roller shaft, said ink fountain roller beingmounted on said ink fountain roller shaft, an ink fountain carriage,said ink fountain roller shaft being mounted on said ink fountaincarriage, a printing cylinder frame for carrying said printing platecylinder and having a keyway for slidably receiving said carriage, meansfor adjusting the position of said ink fountain roller with respect tosaid printing plate cylinder comprising a gear shaft mounted on saidprinting plate cylinder frame, means for rotating said gear shaft, agear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said inkfountain carriage, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motionwith respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear and rack being arrangedto position said ink fountain carriage with respect to said printingplate cylinder frame when said gear is in engagement with said rack andsaid gear shaft is manipulated.

6. A flexographic press according to claim 5 wherein said vemieradjusting means for adjusting said ink fountain roller with respect tosaid plate cylinder comprises a carriage adjusting shaft, said inkfountain carriage having a bore for receiving said carriage adjustingshaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screw for locking in saidcarriage adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselected position, theother end of said carriage adjusting shaft having a threaded portion,said carriage adjusting nut having a circumferential groove, a bracketfixedly mounted on the plate cylinder frame and receivable in saidcircumferential groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said carriageadjusting nut but allowing rotational movement, said carriage adjustingnut and said carriage adjusting screw being arranged to move said inkfountain carriage with respect to said plate cylinder frame when saidlocking screw is in its locked position and said carriage adjusting nutis rotated.

7. A flexographic press according to claim 5 including means foradjusting the rotational position of said printing plate cylinder withrespect to said impression cylinder to correct the web registrationbetween stations comprising a main shaft mounted for rotation on a frameof said press, said impression cylinder being mounted on said mainshaft, a first helical gear mounted on said main shaft, a second shaftmounted on said frame, a second helical gear mounted on said secondshaft, a spur gear mounted on said second shaft, a printing platecylinder shaft carrying said printing plate cylinder, a spur gearmounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, gear meansinterconnecting said spur gear on said second shaft with the spur gearmounted on said printing plate rotational movement of the printing platecylinder with respect to the impression cylinder responsive torotational and axial manipulation of the second shaft 8. ln aflexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with eachstation having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and arelated impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprisingan ink fountain roller shaft, said ink fountain roller being mounted onsaid ink fountain roller shaft, an ink fountain carriage, said inkfountain roller shaft being mounted on said ink fountain carriage, aprinting cylinder frame for carrying said printing plate cylinder andhaving a keyway for slidably receiving said carriage, a gear shaftrotatably carried by said printing plate cylinder frame. a gear mountedon said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said ink fountaincarriage, means movabiy mounting said gear shaft on said printing platecylinder frame for selective relative movement of said gear into and outof operative engagement with said rack means and for manipulating saidgear shaft when said gear is in operative engagement with said rack toselectively position said ink fountain carriage with respect to saidprinting plate cylinder frame.

1. In a flexographic press having a plurality of printing stations witheach station having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinderand a related impression cylinder, the combination in each stationcomprising means mounting said printing plate cylinders including aprinting plate cylinder shaft, said printing plate cylinder beingmounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, a printing plate cylinderframe having upward extensions, said printing plate cylinder shaft beingmounted on said extensions, a press frame having a crossarm, saidcrossarm having a printing plate cylinder frame keyway, said printingplate cylinder frame being slidably mounted on said cylinder framekeyway, a gear shaft, means for manually rotating said gear shaft, agear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on saidcrossarm, said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion withrespect to said press to engage and disengage said gear with respect tosaid rack, said gear shaft, gear, and rack being arranged to positionplate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said gear is inengagement with said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated, a frameadjusting shaft, said plate cylinder frame having a bore for receivingsaid frame adjusting shaft in sliding motion, a releasable locking screwfor locking said frame adjusting shaft in said bore in a preselectedposition, the other end of said frame adjusting shaft having a threadedportion, a manipulatable frame adjusting nut mounted on said threadedportion, said frame adjusting nut having a circumferential Groove, abracket fixedly mounted on the crossarm and receivable in saidcircumferential groove to prevent longitudinal movement of said frameadjusting nut by allowing rotational movement, said frame adjusting nutand said frame adjusting screw being arranged to move said platecylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said locking screw isin its locked position and said frame adjusting nut is rotated.
 2. In aflexographic press having a plurality of printing stations with eachstation having an ink fountain roller, a printing plate cylinder and arelated impression cylinder, the combination in each station comprisingmeans mounting each of said printing plate cylinders for individualmovement back and forth relative to its impression cylinder, meansmounting each of said ink fountain rollers for individual movement backand forth relative to its printing plate cylinder, said means mountingin said printing plate cylinder including coarse adjusting means andvernier adjusting means, said means mounting said printing platecylinder including a printing plate cylinder shaft, said printing platecylinder being mounted on said printing plate cylinder shaft, a printingplate cylinder frame having upward extensions, said printing platecylinder shaft being mounted on said extensions, a press frame having acrossarm, said crossarm having a printing plate cylinder frame keyway,said printing plate cylinder frame being slidably mounted on saidcylinder frame keyway, said coarse adjusting means for adjusting theposition of said plate cylinder with respect to said impression cylindercomprising a gear shaft, means for rotating said gear shaft, a gearmounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said crossarm,said gear shaft being arranged for transverse motion with respect tosaid rack, said gear shaft, gear, and rack being arranged to positionsaid plate cylinder frame with respect to said crossarm when said gearis in engagement with said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated.
 3. Aflexographic press according to claim 2 wherein said vernier adjustingmeans for adjusting said plate cylinder with respect to said impressioncylinder comprises a frame adjusting shaft, said plate cylinder framehaving a bore for receiving said frame adjusting shaft in slidingmotion, a releasable locking screw for locking said frame adjustingshaft in said bore in a preselected position, the other end of saidframe adjusting shaft having a threaded portion, a manipulatable frameadjusting nut mounted on said threaded portion, said frame adjusting nuthaving a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on saidcrossarm and receivable in said circumferential groove to preventlongitudinal movement of said frame adjusting nut but allowingrotational movement, said frame adjusting nut and said frame adjustingscrew being arranged to move said plate cylinder frame with respect tosaid crossarm when said locking screw is in its locked position and saidframe adjusting nut is rotated.
 4. A flexographic press according toclaim 2 including means for adjusting the rotational position of theprinting plate cylinder with respect to the impression cylinder tocorrect the web registration between stations comprising a pair ofmating helical gears, means mounting one of said gears in direct driverelationship with respect to said printing plate cylinder and meansmounting the other of said gears in direct drive relationship withrespect to said impression cylinder, means for adjusting the relativeposition between said pair of helical gears to provide partialrotational movement of said printing plate cylinder with respect to saidimpression cylinder.
 5. In a flexographic press having a plurality ofprinting stations with each station having an ink fountain roller, aprinting plate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, thecombination in each station comprising means mounting each of saidprinting plate cylinders for individual movement bacK and forth relativeto its impression cylinder, means mounting each of said ink fountainrollers for individual movement back and forth relative to its printingplate cylinder, said means mounting said ink fountain roller includingcoarse adjusting means and vernier adjusting means, means mounting saidink fountain roller including an ink fountain roller shaft, said inkfountain roller being mounted on said ink fountain roller shaft, an inkfountain carriage, said ink fountain roller shaft being mounted on saidink fountain carriage, a printing cylinder frame for carrying saidprinting plate cylinder and having a keyway for slidably receiving saidcarriage, means for adjusting the position of said ink fountain rollerwith respect to said printing plate cylinder comprising a gear shaftmounted on said printing plate cylinder frame, means for rotating saidgear shaft, a gear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mountedon said ink fountain carriage, said gear shaft being arranged fortransverse motion with respect to said rack, said gear shaft, gear andrack being arranged to position said ink fountain carriage with respectto said printing plate cylinder frame when said gear is in engagementwith said rack and said gear shaft is manipulated.
 6. A flexographicpress according to claim 5 wherein said vernier adjusting means foradjusting said ink fountain roller with respect to said plate cylindercomprises a carriage adjusting shaft, said ink fountain carriage havinga bore for receiving said carriage adjusting shaft in sliding motion, areleasable locking screw for locking in said carriage adjusting shaft insaid bore in a preselected position, the other end of said carriageadjusting shaft having a threaded portion, said carriage adjusting nuthaving a circumferential groove, a bracket fixedly mounted on the platecylinder frame and receivable in said circumferential groove to preventlongitudinal movement of said carriage adjusting nut but allowingrotational movement, said carriage adjusting nut and said carriageadjusting screw being arranged to move said ink fountain carriage withrespect to said plate cylinder frame when said locking screw is in itslocked position and said carriage adjusting nut is rotated.
 7. Aflexographic press according to claim 5 including means for adjustingthe rotational position of said printing plate cylinder with respect tosaid impression cylinder to correct the web registration betweenstations comprising a main shaft mounted for rotation on a frame of saidpress, said impression cylinder being mounted on said main shaft, afirst helical gear mounted on said main shaft, a second shaft mounted onsaid frame, a second helical gear mounted on said second shaft, a spurgear mounted on said second shaft, a printing plate cylinder shaftcarrying said printing plate cylinder, a spur gear mounted on saidprinting plate cylinder shaft, gear means interconnecting said spur gearon said second shaft with the spur gear mounted on said printing platecylinder shaft in driving relationship, said helical gears beingconstructed and arranged with respect to each other to cause rotationalmovement of the printing plate cylinder with respect to the impressioncylinder responsive to rotational and axial manipulation of the secondshaft.
 8. In a flexographic press having a plurality of printingstations with each station having an ink fountain roller, a printingplate cylinder and a related impression cylinder, the combination ineach station comprising an ink fountain roller shaft, said ink fountainroller being mounted on said ink fountain roller shaft, an ink fountaincarriage, said ink fountain roller shaft being mounted on said inkfountain carriage, a printing cylinder frame for carrying said printingplate cylinder and having a keyway for slidably receiving said carriage,a gear shaft rotatably carried by said printing plate cylinder frame, agear mounted on said gear shaft, an elongated rack mounted on said inkfountain carriage, meAns movably mounting said gear shaft on saidprinting plate cylinder frame for selective relative movement of saidgear into and out of operative engagement with said rack means and formanipulating said gear shaft when said gear is in operative engagementwith said rack to selectively position said ink fountain carriage withrespect to said printing plate cylinder frame.